N. Korean Nuclear Tensions On Upswing

S. Korea Says Northern Neighbor 'Likely' To Have Nuclear Weapon

(CBS/AP)  South Korea's defense chief said Friday that North Korea is likely to have one or two nuclear weapons, amid growing concerns the communist regime may be preparing its first test of an atomic bomb.

Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung told a parliamentary meeting that the Seoul government doesn't doubt the North has nuclear weapons.

"North Korea is now estimated to have one or two" nuclear weapons, Yoon said, according to a video of the meeting posted on the National Assembly Web site.

The comment was seen as a change in South Korea's assessment of the North's nuclear capability, with Seoul previously saying only that the North had the capability to build one or two nuclear weapons.

North Korea has claimed it has nuclear weapons, but it is not known if the isolated country has performed any tests confirming its claims. Many experts believe the North has enough radioactive material to build at least half a dozen nuclear weapons.

Concerns about a possible test flared after an American TV network reported last week, citing U.S. officials, that suspicious activity was observed at a possible underground nuclear test site in the North.

The United States, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea have tried to convince the North to abandon its nuclear program, through six-party negotiations that have been on hold since November.

There have been tensions this week as well.

"If North Korea does carry out its nuclear experiment, it will pose a grave threat to Japan, Northeast Asia and the international community," Shinzo Abe, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, said Friday. "It will be absolutely unacceptable."

He declined to confirm or deny reports that Japan has ramped up its surveillance and instead urged Pyongyang to return to the stalled six-party talks on its nuclear disarmament.

"North Korea's nuclear problem should be resolved peacefully through the six party talks," said Abe.

North Korea has refused to return to nuclear disarmament talks until the United States lifts restrictions imposed on the communist regime for its alleged counterfeiting and money laundering.

South Korea and the United States have urged the hard-line regime to return to the talks without conditions, saying it is a law enforcement issue unrelated to the nuclear standoff.

North Korea lashed out Tuesday at current U.S.-South Korean military drills, saying they nullified the armistice in the 1950-53 Korean War and warning that it may take retaliatory action.

[hsmagst]

This is in response to duffynight's comment. Ask the Kurds if Saddam had WMD or not. He had plenty of time to get rid of them after he went into Kuwait and before we invaded. He didn't have to tell us where he put them but probably with one of his neighbors. Too many intelligence agencies were certain he had them for it to be just a dream excuse of President Bush. As too why we went in, maybe part of it was to speak for the over 3 million men, women and children that Saddam had killed and buried in mass graves in the desert. And maybe another part was to help sow the seeds of democracy in an area that has only known repression of women, religious intolerance and tribal genocide for most recorded history. We sit here in the USA enjoying freedoms most of us never had to fight for and feel no obligation to help other repressed peoples enjoy what we take for granted.

[heardenuff]

hey BUSH bashers

there are a few differences here one of which is that the iranian pin head has already made indications that he would like to see Israel "wiped" from the earth and that my friends is/would be and should be UN acceptable
- now if n korea said they'd like to wipe "japan" off the map there would be more attention...

as well, dealing with n korea "immediately" would be a logistical issue we are already in position to deal with irania

as well, when dealing with n kore ana we aren't just dealing with the dim wit - we also have to consider the other "brother" - china

[reuben110-2009]

What I find slightly odd, is that the general public are genuinely unconcearned about N.Korea. And because they do no fit our Governments criteria of 'attackable'nations, as they are not muslim, and secondly they do not have oil,that just makes the situation worse. Their leader is an attention seeking dictator, whose nation i going nowhere under him, a true recipe for disaster is brewing. Given his shortage in Governmental revenue, i find it difficult to believe that he sanctioned the acquisition of nucleur power so he could look at the stations. Either he will become an Iranian allie or just go and do something tupid himself while we sit idly by and focus in Iran who are 2 years away from getting the bomb. I dont see why there isnt pressure on this guy, why is nobody eager that he disarm? A naion with nothing to lose, run by an attention seking dictator, armed with massive arsenals is not a good situation, shame he isnt muslim or we would have attacked him yesterday!

[thgdriver]

It all comes down to Truman fireing the greatest General this nation ever had, If truman had any ba--s he would have let Mac have his way in 1952/1953 and we would not be in this mess! I don't think there would have been a Nam war eather.

[duffyn]

I've always found it rather odd the whole time we were "getting" saddam because he had weapons of mass destruction (and we all know now that he did NOT have WMD), this North Korean guy was waving has hand and saying "Hey I've GOT WMD and I'd love to use them on you"!!!. And for some reason, bush ignores this (no oil?) But then we circle back to the bush Iraq rherotric and I think most everyone knows bush has never come out with the real reason why he ordered our soldiers into Iraq. I'm no more worried about him then I ever was saddam. They (saddam and north korea) both know as do all countries any WMD used over here in the USA that is traced back to them and their entire country is radioactive dust.

[joya101]

it's not bush if the goverment told him to jump he'll ask how hi it's the world wide goverment. and its going to get even worseer history is repeating its self again .and pepole don't know this but there giting pepole out there homes and killing them know won know that but i just found out today. there going to start drafing and such more north korea tested the bombs and shot them out in alaska and the tares is the goverment they pay them to do this the world wide goverment and as soon as korea get to it japen and china tiwan .then asia. bush is the stupidest president they ever hard . i have a message to u all don't ever get scared of the goverment there fooling with ur mind that's th devils behind all this that way i never listen top there bull s h it....and my dauther writted all of this because she thought every one should know this and she is only 12 years old.. and listen to wat she said

[sardon2k5]

I think its simply more of North Korea's continual smack talk. They always cry and moan about stupid *** (i.e. calling an annual "exercise" a provocation to war, when the exercise is always peaceful, just training).

They're insignificant and trying to be otherwise, but it won't happen via ignorant threats and more "mine is bigger than yours" banter.

[heardenuff]

SO........ how do you ALL feel about being threatened by a nuclear weapon - should we/anyone have to stand by and listen to this nimwit threaten our people with the possibility of being struck by a nuclear bomb? how does the little ole poor pity them world see this one?

I say if one more rocket leaves n korean soil we flatten whats left of them as a statement to irania.....